14 Like a huntedz gazelle,

like sheep without a shepherd,a

they will all return to their own people,

they will fleeb to their native land.c

15 Whoever is captured will be thrust through;

all who are caught will falld by the sword.e

16 Their infantsf will be dashed to pieces before their eyes;

their houses will be looted and their wives violated.g

17 See, I will stir uph against them the Medes,i

who do not care for silver

and have no delight in gold.j

18 Their bowsk will strike down the young men;l

they will have no mercym on infants,

nor will they look with compassion on children.n

19 Babylon,o the jewel of kingdoms,p

the pride and gloryq of the Babylonians,b

will be overthrownr by God

like Sodom and Gomorrah.s

20 She will never be inhabitedt

or lived in through all generations;

there no nomadsu will pitch their tents,

there no shepherds will rest their flocks.

21 But desert creaturesv will lie there,

jackalsw will fill her houses;

there the owlsx will dwell,

and there the wild goatsy will leap about.

22 Hyenasz will inhabit her strongholds,a

jackalsb her luxurious palaces.

Her time is at hand,c

and her days will not be prolonged.d